Commentary, J Trauma Stress Disor Treat Vol: 9 Issue: 4

Mental Illness: Summarizing Facts

Azra Tabassum^*

Banasthali University, India

*Corresponding Author: Azra Tabassum
Banasthali University, India
Email: asmara14862@gmail.com

Received: July 27, 2020 Accepted: September 21, 2020 Published: September 29, 2020

Citation: Tabassum A (2020) Mental Illness: Summarizing Facts. J Trauma Stress Disor Treat 9:4.

Abstract

Keywords: Schizophrenia; Depression; Mental health; PTSD; Phobia

Keywords

Schizophrenia; Depression; Mental health; PTSD; Phobia

Introduction

Mental Illness

The term Mental illness comprises of variety of mental health conditions. It involves significant changes in thinking (such as abnormal thoughts), feeling or emotions, behaviour and relationships with others.

Mental health conditions are associated with distress and or disability in social, work, or family activities. Some of them are schizophrenia, depression, intellectual disabilities and disorders due to drug abuse. Most of the mental health problems can be successfully treated by the talk therapy or medication.

Anxiety disorders

1. It is a form of mental illness that causes a feeling of intense fear and distress. It is that condition in which you have anxiety which doesn’t go away and can get worse over time. It can be treated.

2. It makes hard to meet new people, attend social gatherings, speaking in public, facing a job interview. It can affect your ability to concentrate, sleep and carry out ordinary tasks at work, home or school.

3. People with anxiety disorders often feel to avoid stressful situations and in extreme cases avoid going out altogether.

4. It can be caused due to many reasons which include genetic factors, ongoing stress, family history of anxiety or other mental disorders, physical health issues or a traumatic event.

5. Women are found to be more likely to develop anxiety than men.

6. Using caffeine, other substances, and certain medicines can make your symptoms worse.

7. If not treated it can worsen and increase panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder (obsessive thoughts), phobias, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Social phobia (social anxiety disorder), Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and also physical symptoms such as pain, nausea, headaches, shortness of breath, a pounding heart, trembling hands, thyroid problems or arrhythmia.

8. Psychotherapy (talk therapy) like Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication may include anti-anxiety medicines and certain antidepressants to treat anxiety disorders.

Depression

1. It is a brain disorder and a serious medical illness. It can be explained as more than a feeling of being sad. It is not something that you can control or just get over it. It can be a serious issue, but there is treatment available that can help you feel better.

2. Depression can happen at any age. It often begins in teens and young adults. It is much more common in women.

3. It can be caused due to genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors.

4. Symptoms can include feeling sad or "empty", Loss of interest in favorite activities, overeating or not interested to eat at all, difficulty in sleeping or sleeping too much, feeling very tired, hopeless, irritable, anxious or guilty, aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems, thoughts of death or suicide.

5. Antidepressants, talk therapy, or both are the effective treatments for depression.

6. There are 9 types of Depression which includes: Major depression (also called major depressive disorder, clinical depression, classic depression, or unipolar depression), Persistent depression (dysthymia), Bipolar disorder (manic depression), Depressive psychosis, Perinatal depression (postpartum depression), PMDD (Premenstrual dysphoric disorder), Seasonal depression, Situational depression, Atypical depression.

Eating disorders

1. Eating disorders are serious, chronic conditions which can be life-threatening, if left untreated.

2. They typically take root during the adolescent years and primarily affect females.

3. Involve obsessive and sometimes distressing thoughts and behaviors such as Reduction of food intake Overeating, Feelings of depression or distress, Concern of weight, body shape, poor self-image

4. Three most common types of eating disorders are:

Anorexia Nervosa – self-starvation
Bulimia Nervosa – binge eating followed by purging, fasting or excessive exercise
Binge Eating Disorder – episodes of uncontrolled eating, without the abuse of laxatives or vomiting, associated bulimia

Personality disorders

1. It is a type of mental disorder in which individuals have an inflexible and unhealthy pattern of thinking, functioning and behaving.

2. People with personality disorders often have tempestuous relationship with other people. They find it hard to change their behaviour, adapt to different situations, trouble sustaining work or forming positive relationships with others. They often blame others for their problems. They may try to get help because of their problems with relationship and work.

3. Personality disorders usually begin in adolescence.

4. It causes distress and makes it difficult to function in everyday life.

5. People with personality disorders also have high rates of coexisting mental health conditions such as depression and substance abuse.

6. Its treatment usually includes talk therapy and sometimes medicine.

7. There are many 10 types of personality disorders grouped in three categories:

I. Suspicious:

1. Paranoid personality disorder
2. Schizoid personality disorder
3. Schizotypal personality disorder
4. Antisocial personality disorder

II. Emotional and impulsive:

1. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
2. Histrionic personality disorder
3. Narcissistic personality disorder

III. Anxious:

1. Avoidant personality disorder
2. Dependent personality disorder
3. Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder

1. It is a mental health disorder which can be caused due to experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.

2. The traumatic event can be life-threatening, such as war, natural disaster, serious injury or accident, physical or sexual assault, domestic violence, living in a war zone, torture, verbal or physical abuse. Sometimes the event is not necessarily a dangerous one such as, sudden or unexpected death of a loved one can also cause PTSD.

3. PTSD Symptoms may include re-experiencing the trauma (memories, nightmares or distressing flashbacks), negative thoughts and mood, being very alert and easily startled.

4. PTSD can develop at any age and can be a long lasting and disabling condition. It can also lead to conditions such as depression or substance abuse.

Psychotic disorders

1. It includes schizophrenia, a serious mental illness that is marked by significant changes and disruption in both cognitive and emotional function.

2. It can cause people to have delusions, hear voices, hallucinate or show no emotion at all.

3. Individuals with schizophrenia may have difficulty thinking clearly, managing emotions, making decisions and relating to others.

4. The average onset for this disorder tends to occur in late teens and early 20’s for men and late 20’s to early 30’s for women.

5. Treatment depends on the cause of the psychosis and might involve drugs to control symptoms and talk therapy.